PAVEL MITKOV

Pavel Mitkov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1977. He took up painting in 1994 while still at high school. Later, he earned a degree in Landscape Design. Mitkov quickly made progress in the world of art. For just a few years he became one of Bulgaria’s best selling painters and in 2007, a Deutsche Welle documentary even pitched him as one of Europe’s most successful artists whose art has a universal appeal. He got international recognition in 2004 when the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Board of Trustees commissioned and made a gift of Mitkov’s painting to then Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was on a visit Bulgaria. That brought in plenty of commissioned artworks and prestigious exhibitions. Mitkov’s paintings have also been presented as gifts to Pope John Paul II, King Albert II of Belgium, Pope Benedict XVI, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Russian Patriarch Kirill and other dignitaries from all over the world. With numerous international exhibitions in Europe, the USA and Russia (See Exhibitions), Mitkov’s artworks have become a benchmark for success. Mitkov has been awarded a number of prizes including:
- Laureate of the Medal of Franz Kafka;
- World Prize of Salvador Dali for Fine Arts by the Salvador Dalí International Alliance
- Order of Lomonosov;
- Prize for Fine Arts of Masarykova Academy, Prague;
- Gold Medal, France 29th January 2009;
- Diploma of participation at the International Painting Camp "Bucovina - Past, Present, and Future", Romania 2011
He has been taking an active part in the political, social and artistic life both in Bulgaria and elsewhere in the world. He has opened his galleries in Berlin, Germany, Karlowi Wari, the Czech Republic, Moscow, Russia, Verona, Italy, Washington and New York, the USA. He loves the East and is a regular visitor to Tokyo, Japan and Vladivostok, Russia among others. Mitkov’s art conveys a message of peace, kindness and harmony. The artist determines three periods in his art spanning over 12 years each. (See Periods).
Pre-2000, 2000-2012, post-2012
The most fascinating period is from 2012 on. Mitkov highlights two particular dates in it: 21.12.2012, supposedly the end of the world, and 10.02.2013, the beginning of the Age of Aquarius and the Chinese New Year. According to the artist, that was the time when the mankind chose its future 2000-year cycle and the good prevailed. Always positive, always filled with a lot of energy, Mitkov turned his latest period into a life mission. It is not about just composing paintings but rather about creating and putting enormous love into canvases. The painter believes a painting can make a real difference in a man’s life.